The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1887-07-02
ELSIE'S RIGHTS.

him like panoramic display. "a
very nice farm. No nicer in the
neighborhood."
"And house with all the modern
improvements" said Mrs. Spruce,
her thin lips widening into II spas
modic smile. at does seem as il
luck had reached us at lastw
"And we can keep a hired girl,
ma, can't we?" said Helena Elvira
Spruce, who had her gowns made
long and straight, with little ruliles
around the skirt, and big shoulder
pufs, to look "spirituellc.' "Its
such drudgery to wash dishes and
scrape fryingl"
"Of course " observed Mrs. Spruce
81 am sorry for my poor stcpson,
Paul. But Paul would have been
alive now if he had taken my adj
vice and stayed at home, instead of
going out to Nevada, silvcr-hunt-
ing"
"Paul was always II headstronq
boy" said Mr.. Spruce, smoothing
down the Grape band on his straw
hat" always :"
And so the Spruce family came
down the hill, through the sweet
pine woods, softly carpeted with
tiny pine needles, and across fields
all golden with buttercups, to the
snug farmhouse under the monster
sycamore trees.
And there, on the steps, sat Il
pretty young girl, seemingly moi
more than eighteen or nineteer
years old, with travelling bag in
her lap, and Il black barege veil
huttering i'll the evening breeze
Her dress was Of cheap, black ma
terial ; her face pale and worn, as i
with fatigue. She rose hurricdly
up as they approached.
"Have | come to the right place?'
said she. Does Mr.. Spruce live
here ?"
Mr.. Hubbard Spruce cleared hi,
throat sonorously.
"Young woman" said he, my
names is Spruce.
The girl burst into tears.
"Please-pleasc, then, be kind t,
me-" faltered she. 81 am your sol
Paul's widow
And as she came up to him, holding
out both trembling hands.
There's some mis- axe here,
said Mr.. Spruce, unfolding IL big
red-silk handkerchief. "Paul's wifi,
died in Nevada, IL few weeks afte
his DEATH
"No, she did not, said the youns
woman. "Shc's her" now. | wal
very, very ill-they gave up al
hopes of me. But did not die"
"Humph !" said Mr.. Spruce, whil
his wife and daughter got behint
him, cycling the stranger with cold
unsympathetic eyes. "This is :
very remarkable story. | am in
clined, young woman, to believe i
all a fabrication. I'm very mucl
afraid that you are an impostor!' y
A deep-rcd flush rose to the girl
face.
II can prove that | ann not that,
said she. 81 have the papers her
in my bag. thought, as Il matte
of course, that Paul's parents woult
be good to me. There was no on
else for me to 60 to"
Mr.. Sprucc's face turned all man
ner ofcolors as he looked Ill the it'll
packet of papers which she cxtende,
to him.
upon my word said he, this i
very extraordinary! julia to hi
wife, 81 am constrained to believ
that this young woman really i
Paul's widow"
Mrs. Spruce dropped a stiff coul
tesy.
"ITow do you do, Mrs. Paul ?
said she.
"You will call me Elsie, won
you?" said the girl appealingly
"And this is Paul's sister?'
"His halfsister," corrected Mis-
Helena Elvira. "We never were {
all alike Ma was only his stel
mother, And ! scarcely remembc
him.
"And," added Mrs. Spruce, qucrI
lously, "it did seem as if Paul ha
made us enough trouble one wa
and another without dying and b,
queathing us a wife to take care of
Julia" said Mr.. Spruce, POM
ously, we must not question til
will of providence, Come her
Elsie, and kiss me. Wen do Il
best we can for you-always takir
it for granted that you mean to ear
your own living, and not be depcn,
ent upon us ?'
81 will do my best" said Elsi
81 am n rood little hOusekeepe